Combination garment



May 4 1954,. s. M. sHusrzR COMBINATION GARMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 7, 1951 JNVENToR. FIG. SmNEv M. SHUSTER BY 56 W ATToRNl-:

May 4, 1954 s. M. SHUSTER 2,677,131

COMBINATION GARMENT Filed DBC. 7, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR. SmNEY M. SHusTER ATTORNEY Patented May 4, 1954 COMBINATION GARMENT Sidney M. sinister, Philadelphia, Pa. Application December 7, 1951, Serial No. 260,391

2 Claims.

The subject matter ofthis inventionvrelates to garments, especially but not exclusively to the doublet or two-garment combination type, and

'achieves the objective of providing a combination garment of the type designated from which the side elements, consisting of sleeves and portions of the body element, may be readily and detachably removed from the body of the garment and as readily reattached, thus creating two distinct, conventional garments out of one. f

As stated, my invention can be applied ideally to the doublet type of garment currently popular, wherein the sleeves and adjoining sections of the body are made of one material and the remaining portion of the body is made of a `different or contrasting material, thus creating the illusion of two separate garments being worn superposed one upon the other, such as a shirt and vest, or shirt and slipo-ver sweater. My in- -vention achieves the creation of two actual garments from one, the removal of the side elements, consisting of sleeves and adjoining portions of the body element, transforming the "doublet garment into a new, vest-like garment.

However, my invention is not restricted to the aforementioned double type of garment, but is as readily adaptable to any form or style of garment having sleeves, such as jackets, sweaters, ski-suits, special garments for spectators or participants in various sport activities, shirts, playsuits, riding habits, and the like. It can also be adapted tol sleeveless garments, where occasional removal of side portions of the body of the garment is advantageous. It can be adapted for knitted, as well as woven garments and, in fact, to every such type ofv garment in use.

-The principal object of my invention, therefore, is the construction of a combination garment, of the typesdescribed, provided with removable side elements, the side elements comprising each a sleeve with a section of its adjacent body element, whereby a complete distinctive garment is lcreated by the removal of the side elements, and a complete distinctive garment is created by the reattachment of said side elements.

vAnother important object of my invention is to provide various motif designs Woven or imprinted on the main body portion of the garment and similar or properly contrasting motif designs woven or imprinted uponV the detachable side elements, so that two or more different sets of side elements maybe provided for each main body element, the attachment of a different set of side elements to the body element presenting 2 a distinctive and entirely novel, as well as practical, artistic eifect. This interchangeable effect is as well adaptable to the use of color combinations and contrasts.

A third important object of my invention is to Adevise a construction in which the attaching means will be flat and completely concealed from view when the side elements are secured to the balance of the garment, and also when the side elements are removed, so that a smooth and even surface will be apparent at all times around the points of joinder of the side elements to the main body element.

With these and other objects, advantages and functional features in view, my invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will hereinafter be more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of agarment constructed according -to my invention, showing one of the detachable side elements apart from the body of the garment;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view on the same elevation as Fig. 1, showing the construction and arrangement of the fastening elements on the body of the garment and on the detachable side element;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view similar to a portion of Fig. 1, with a portion of the outer surface broken away to show cooperation of the fastening elements;

Fig. 4 is an enlargedv cross-sectional view on lines 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modified embodiment together with transposition of the locking and unlocking slide member carried by the fastening elements;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view similar to Fig. 3 with a portion of the upper surface of the garment broken away and aportion of the front ofthe garment broken away to discloseV inner construction; and

Fig. 'I is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on lines 1-1 of Fig. 6.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the differentviews.

Illustrative of the embodiments thus disclosed, and referring now to the drawings, my invention comprises a garment I having a main body element 2 and detachable side elements 3. The main body element 2 has the material at the marginal portions of the side openings 4 folded inwardly and secured in position by two lines of stitching 5 which also pass through a tape 6 which carries a set of fastening elements l. As shown in Fig. 1, the fastening elements 'I are positioned inwardly of the edge of the side opening 4, with the tooth ends thereof facing outwardly from the main body element 2. The free ends of the tape 6 are secured in adjacent position to each other at the bottom of the side opening 4 so that a continuous line of fastening elements 'I surrounds said side opening 4 on the inner surface of said marginal portion, the free ends of the tape 6 being slightly apart from each other, however, so as to allow the 'connection thereto of a complementary line of fastening elements 8 which are secured to the side element 3.

The detachable side elements 3, as showniin- Figs. 1 and 2, comprise each a sleeve 9 and a small section I of the main body of the garment I. Each side element 3 has the marginal portion at its body opening folded inwardly and two lines of stitching I I secure this fold in position and also secure thereto a tape I2 which carries a set of fastening elements 8', on which. mountedea locking and unlocking slide member I3. The tape I2 is secured in such a manner that the fastening elements 8 project outwardly and, beyond the edge of the side element. 3, with the tooth endslof the fastening elements 8 facing; outtwardly, and the free ends of the'tapey I2 are secured inl ad-jacent position to each other at the bottom of the-marginal portion of the side element 3, so thatproperregistry is provided for the two sets of fastening elements 'I and 8 when juxtapositioned;

It will be seen from the foregoing that when the side element 3is attached to the main body element 2, with the fastening elements 7 and 8 properly joined, said fastening elements I and 8 will be entirely concealed from view by the overlapping marginal` flap I4, andthegarment- I4 will present a smooth, finished appearance at the point of. joinder.

The locking and unlocking slide member I3V4 is preferably carried by the side element3, as shown in Fig. 2, but it may be carried instead by the main body element 2, as shown-in. Fig. 5. Provision may alsobe made for the slide member I3 to` be operative from the inside of the garment I or from the outside thereof, although the. latter is preferred since removal and attachment of the side elements 3 may thus be made while thev garment is-being worn.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 there is shown a modified form of combination garment, in which an inside ap i5 is provided around the marginal opening of the main body element 2. It has-been found tobe desirable in some forms of garments to provide` a means of protectionto the skin of the wearer from the toothed edges ofthe fastening elements 'I when the garment is worn without the side elements 3, sincethese fastening elements l are apt to injure the skin unless proper protection is aiorded.- Suchprotection is aecomplished by providing an inside flap I5 which. is secured around the marginal edge of the side opening 4 by means of the same lines of stitching 5 which secures the tape G tothe main body element 2.y The flap I5l extends outwardly beyond the fastening elements '1, on the inside of the main. body element 2 so as to encase the fastening elements 'I between it and the marginal flap I4, the marginal nap I4 extending outwardly farther soY that the inside flap I5 cannot be seen from the outside in either form of the com.- bination garment.

In operation, to secure the side element 3 to the main body elementZ the male element on the 'f the main body element can slide member I3 which is attached to one set of fastening elements I is inserted into the female element of the slide member I3, which is attached to the other set of fastening elements 8. 'Ihe slide member I3 is then drawn forwardly its full length of travel around the fastening elements 1 and 8, securing them to each other and attaching the side element 3 to the main body element 2. When the slide member I3 is drawn rearwardly its full length of travel the' two sets of fastening elements I and 8' are released from one another and the side element 3 is detached from the main body element 2. In either case a complete garment is provided, in the latter case a vest-like garment and in the former a fully sleeved garment.

Asshown inFig. 2 and Fig. 5 the free ends of the tapes 6 and I2'overlap the fastening elements l and 8fso as to provide the necessary spacing for the hooking on of the slide member I3.

It is. thusapparent that my invention provides a combinationgarment which.V can be made into either' of two distinct, complete garments. by the simple expedient of operating the slide member I3 to attach or detach the side elements 3 from the main body element 2.

Further novelty and utility is provided in connection with the practical and artistic effectL of my invention, by providing two or more sets of side elements which can. be substituted for one another, each of said sets having a different motif design, either similar to or contrasting to the-design of the main. body element. In various. types of garments, side elements of differentcolor from be substituted as desired.

While the embodiment shown and, described represents a preferred embodiment of my invention` and` of the materials suggested for its construction, it. is to be: distinctly understood that various. changes may be made in the steps of construction and in the construction and arrangement of parts thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, or sacricing any of the advantages thereof inherent therein, or the features of novelty disclosed.

I claim:

1.. A. combination garment comprising a main body element, detachable side elements and a slideablel fastener adapted to removably attach the side elements tothe main body element. each of the side elements comprising a sleeve and an adjacent shoulder section of the garment body completely surrounding the sleeve and integral therewith, the side elements and the main body elementprovided at each of their attaching edges with a line of cooperating fastener members extending throughoutthe length of such edges to allow for complete detachment of the side elements. from. the` main body element, the side elementshaving their fastener members projecting beyond their attaching edges, the main body element having its fastener members inset from its attaching edges a distance greater than the projection of the fastener members of the side elements, whereby the fastener members are concealedv from view in interlocked arrangement, and a locking andv unlocking slide member cooperating with said fastener members to attach the side elementsrto the main body element and detach them therefrom as desired.

2. A combination garment comprising a main body element, detachable side elementsl and a slideable fastener adapted to removably attach the side elements to the main body element, each of the side elements comprising a sleeve and an adjacent shoulder section of the garment body completely surrounding the sleeve and integral therewith, the side elements and the main body element provided at each of their attaching edges with a line of cooperating fastener members extending throughout the length of such edges to allow for complete detachment of the side elements from the main body element, the side elements having their fastener members projecting beyond their attaching edges, the main body element having its fastener members inset from its attaching edges a distance greater than the projection of the fastener members of the side elements, whereby the fastener members are concealed from view in interlocked arrangement, and a locking and unlocking slide member cooperating with said fastener members to attach the side elements to the main body element and detach them therefrom as desired, the slide member mounted on the side element fastener and removable as a unit therewith.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 945,980 Paradis Jan. 11, 1910 2,122,873 Shuster July 5, 1933 2,313,519 Cuttler Mar. 9, 1943 2,382,396 Carlu Aug. 14, 1945 2,582,643 Mettler Jan. 15, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 355,023 Great Britain Aug. 20, 1931 930,197 France July 28, 1947 263,951 Switzerland Dec. 16, 1949 

